Pon Veera Bharathi, 45, a convict with a life sentence in Madurai prison, who has completed six diploma courses, has moved the Madurai high court, seeking permission to attend the convocation at the Tamil Nadu Open University and receive his two gold medals.
In his petition to the court, Bharathi, a mechanical engineering graduate, complained that the jail authorities had refused to let him go to Anna University, Chennai, at the last minute. He sought the help of the court in being able to attend the next function.
Bharathi’s advocate Peter Rameshkumar told this newspaper that injustice had been done to Bharathi. “He dreamt of attending the convocation. He had worked hard and won two gold medals in the PG diploma courses, spoken English and four-wheeler mechanics. He performed better than the regular students and his talent deserves to be acknowledged,” he said.
Bharathi’s brother Pon Pari Vendhan said the convict was very depressed.
“First he was sentenced to death at the Srivilliputhur court in 1998 for a rape and murder case. Fortunately, the HC reduced it to a life sentence. He was innocent and got trapped. He was an engineer and always wanted to learn more,” he said.